30/01/17: Philippines – conflict and human rights

Posted onAuthorHumanRightsAPPG

The All-Party Parliamentary Human Rights Group (PHRG) organised a panel event on “Conflict and Human Rights in the Philippines” on 30 January 2017 to raise greater awareness about the current situation in the Philippines as regards violations of fundamental rights in the context of the armed conflict against insurgency movements and President Duterte’s “war on drugs”, and to explore how UK Parliamentarians and the UK Government could help support on-going peace talks, as well as civil society and human rights defenders more generally.

The speakers were:

  • Jonathan Cohen (JC) – Executive Director, Conciliation Resources – which has been, inter alia, supporting on-going peace talks between the Government of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).
  • Carlos Isagani Zarate (CZ) – Philippine Congressman, Vice-Chair of the Special Committee on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity in Congress, and observer of the recent officially sanctioned peace talks in Rome, between the Government of the Philippines and the NDFP.
  • Consuelo ‘Coni’ Ledesma (CL) – Philippine Activist and member of NDFP peace negotiating panel.
  • Rachel Chhoa Howard (RH) – Amnesty International Researcher on the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei and co-author of the recent AI report on the Philippines – “Philippines: “If you are poor, you are killed”: Extrajudicial Killings in the Philippines’ “War on Drugs“: https://www.amorg/en/documents/asa35/5517/2017/en/.

The main points made were as follows:

  • The communist insurgency began in 1969 during President Marcos’ repressive regime; it was particularly strong until the mid-1980s but has since continued to be very resilient. Up until 2014, there have been around 200 battle-related deaths.  There have been continuing human rights and IHL violations, by both sides, though also an absence of independent, comprehensive and reliable data on the conflict and its consequences.(JC)
  • In the Philippines, there are a number of significant human rights issues: e.g., marginalisation of ethnic minorities; child rights violations and child labour; attacks on the media; and, use of death squads. Extra-judicial killings and security sector abuses have been on-going for some time, given the absence of political will to address them and investigate.  Under President Benigno Aquino, 300+ leftist activists were killed in impunity between 2010 and 2016, which went largely unnoticed by the international community. (JC)
  • The peace process between the communist insurgents and the Government of the Philippines which began in the 1980s is currently entering its most dynamic phase; since last August there have been three rounds of talks in Europe with a substantive agenda discussed. There is recognition that after 50 years of armed conflict, there will be no armed solution. Unlike the Mindanao peace process, this is a lonely process, with a committed but small peace constituency in the Philippines, and Norway as the only international player. (JC)
  • There is a paradox about the peace process: President Duterte is the first President to take the peace process seriously and yet a conflict that is about the absence of social justice is being progressed at a time of unprecedented HR violations. (JC)
  • There are many firsts in the current peace process, including the fact Congress is represented and officially observing. With the Mindanao peace process, Congress was presented with a law which they then rejected, setting things back; lessons have been learnt. (CZ)
  • Congress is also campaigning for the release of political prisoners, which would build confidence amongst the NDFP; any amnesty would require Congress’ approval. If there is an agreement on socio-economic reform, Congress could adopt relevant legislative measures, e.g., agrarian reform law.  The peace process needs to address root causes of violence. (CZ)
  • It is important to expand the peace constituency and explain the complexities of the peace process so expectations can be managed and more support generated. (CZ)
  • One of the roots of the conflict is inequitable land ownership; others are environmental concerns, the needs of indigenous people and women and children’s rights. There has not been as much divergence between the two sides on these issues as had been thought. (CL)
  • The 1998 Comprehensive Agreement on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, the first and so far only substantive agreement, sets out a logical four point agenda and provides for monitoring of the agreement by a Joint Monitoring Committee, set up in 2004 but still unable to perform joint tasks. The JMC’s Joint Secretariat receives complaints but has not dealt with them. The international community could assist with investigations into complaints. (CL)
  • There is greater trust now between the two sides and more interest generally. (CL)
  • Though Amnesty International welcomes efforts to push the peace process forward, it is very concerned about the violent anti-drugs campaign waged by President Duterte, resulting in 7000 drug-related killings. Of the 30+ killings AI investigated in its recent report, most were extra-judicial killings carried out by or with the complicity of the authorities. The war on drugs is a war on the poor as most of those killed are from poor communities.  The deliberate and systematic killings may amount to crimes against humanity. (RH)
  • AI calls for, inter alia, an end to police operations involving unnecessary/excessive use of force; holding to account those responsible for killings; and an invitation from the Government to UN Special Rapporteurs on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and on the right to health. (RH)
  • Recent developments, involving the disbandment of the police anti-drugs squad, raise more questions than they answer. It provides, however, an opportunity to rethink policy and to set up an independent body to investigate the killings. (RH)
  • An attendees from the Campaign for Human Rights in the Philippines UK highlighted the large Philippine diaspora in Europe, many of whom work in the health care industry. Their MPs here should acknowledge problems there, and support the peace process and development.

 

The PHRG will continue to raise greater awareness about the situation in the Philippines, to monitor developments there closely and to raise its concerns with relevant interlocutors.  Mark Durkan MP, PHRG Officer, has also tabled EDM 927 CONFLICT AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE PHILIPPINES – http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2016-17/927 – and welcomes support for the EDM from Parliamentary colleagues.